Chiefs cornerback Jaylen Watson is not a household name, but he has established himself as a quality starter and has become an important piece of Kansas City’s stout defense. Watson’s success with the AFC powerhouse may lead the impending free agent elsewhere in the offseason, according to ESPN’s Nate Taylor.
The Chiefs selected Watson in the seventh round of the 2022 draft, and he operated in a rotational capacity during his first two years in the pros. The club’s trade of L’Jarius Sneed in March 2024 opened up more playing time for Watson, who started the first six games of the 2024 slate before a fractured fibula and tibia put a premature end to his regular season (though he did return in time for KC’s playoff run). This season, he has remained an every-down corner along with Trent McDuffie, and he presently ranks as Pro Football Focus’ 11th-best CB out of 108 qualified players (just five spots behind McDuffie).
Kansas City moved Sneed in a tag-and-trade maneuver rather than authorize a lucrative extension for him – a wise decision, in hindsight – and Taylor believes the team will allow Watson to simply hit the open market. That is not reflective of the Chiefs’ view of Watson; it is simply a matter of resource allocation. Taylor reports the club will prioritize an extension for McDuffie, a 2023 First Team All-Pro who is reportedly seeking a market-topping contract, and a mega-deal for McDuffie may preclude a Watson re-up.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler likewise suggests McDuffie’s contract situation could force Watson out of Missouri. Watson, who checks in at No. 15 on ESPN’s most recent list of the league’s top 25 players slated for free agency in 2026, has generated some buzz around the league, per Fowler. One AFC executive told the ESPN scribe that Watson will “have a nice market” and “could surprise some people.”
Watson, 27, likely will not come close to the top of the cornerback market, which now includes two players at or above the $30MM/year threshold (McDuffie could join that group in short order). However, the Ventura College and Washington State product should land a deal featuring an eight-figure annual average, and his earning power will be bolstered by his ability to succeed both in press coverage and in zone.
One of GM Brett Veach’s Day 3 success stories, Watson has compiled 42 total tackles, four passes defensed, an interception, and a sack through ten games in 2025.